Alpacas in the UK

When the first alpacas arrived at Morden Hall in 1997, there were less than 500 alpacas in the whole of the UK. Today there are between 15,000 and 20,000 and the number continues to increase with breeding and further imports.

It has been an exciting ten years as we have watched our industry develop. The quality of the alpacas available today is far superior to our original purchases in 1997 as breeders strive to produce top quality alpaca fibre for the luxurious end of the textile market.

Whilst it is the fibre that is the ultimate product of the alpaca, the industry in the UK is very much in its infancy. We believe the industry will remain a breeding based enterprise for some years to come but ultimately it will be the quality of fibre in the national herd which will determine the long term viability of alpaca farming in the UK.

It is for this reason that we operate a highly selective breeding programme and continue to purchase top quality animals to widen and improve the genetics available within our herd.
There are a number of fibre initiatives in operation in the UK including Alpaca Interiors, our own joint venture with Concepts of Peru.

The alpaca is now an established exhibit at many of the agricultural shows across the country with alpaca classes being held alongside the more traditional classes of sheep and cattle.